Dedicated NRL Hunter Forum?

[Kurts86]

Still wish there was an “I actually hunt with this gun (and not from a blind)” class. Not sure how you would enforce it, but something to try and embrace the “Hunter” component versus gamer guns.

I hunt with my open light gun identical to how it is run in NRL hunter at 11.5 lbs on spot and stalk hunts out west. It’s a 7 lb rifle without a scope, bipod and suppressor. The only compromises I would make on some hunts would be to switch from a Cykepod to a Mountain bipod for 1-1.5 lbs weight savings on true backpack hunts. Most of the time I’ll take the speed and versatility of a heavier bipod because of how I can build positions.

My open light gun is still quite manageable to carry and in no way behaves like my 20 lb PRS rifle setup both from carry/recoil impulse perspectives. It requires a weight conscious decisions to build an open light gun with true long range components

Some of the gaming of NRL hunter drives me a bit nuts but this is omnipresent throughout shooting competition. It does drive innovation ultimately in gear optimization. NRL hunter is still much more filled with competitive shooters shifting disciples from PRS/Highpower/F class than serious hunters trying to get better at shooting.

 

[Okie_Poke]

Some of the gaming of NRL hunter drives me a bit nuts but this is omnipresent throughout shooting competition. It does drive innovation ultimately in gear optimization. NRL hunter is still much more filled with competitive shooters shifting disciples from PRS/Highpower/F class than serious hunters trying to get better at shooting.

I enjoy the game and think it can be hugely beneficial to hunters to use to develop skills, but you have to go into it knowing that you are the only person you are competing against and to ignore the gamers. Gamers are going to game; it's a competition after all.

I've been trying to convince my brother in law and a couple of buddies to come shoot one with me for the past several years. Finally went by myself last year but am still on them for this year. It's just hard to convince them to spend the time and money it takes to shoot a 2 day match they pretty well know they are going to suck at.

 

[Okie_Poke]

Still wish there was an “I actually hunt with this gun (and not from a blind)” class. Not sure how you would enforce it, but something to try and embrace the “Hunter” component versus gamer guns.

I've thought about this some too. I haven't really come up with a solution, and I appreciate folks are just going to game the rules no matter what the rules are because it's a game. But, my thought was a 10 pound weight limit and to disqualify tripods from the "mountain light" division. I know folks (myself included) carry tripods when hunting, though, and plenty of folks are carrying heavier rifles, so it would be kinda arbitrary. The only other thought I had was to impose weight limits on everything---rifle, bags, and tripods---to try and force folks to use lightweight bipods and tripods and lighter fill bags.

But at the end of the day, there is nothing stopping someone from showing up and shooting Skills with what they actually hunt with other than want-to. I don't think you can legislate want-to with rules.

 

[wind gypsy]

It's just hard to convince them to spend the time and money it takes to shoot a 2 day match they pretty well know they are going to suck at.

Needing a full weekend plus Friday off work is the biggest killer of most matches for me.

 

[ID_Matt]

Needing a full weekend plus Friday off work is the biggest killer of most matches for me.

The idaho directors have changed to saturday morning check in which is sure nice. Always frustrating when you have to take a friday off just to go spend 30 minutes checking in.

I've thought about this some too. I haven't really come up with a solution, and I appreciate folks are just going to game the rules no matter what the rules are because it's a game. But, my thought was a 10 pound weight limit and to disqualify tripods from the "mountain light" division. I know folks (myself included) carry tripods when hunting, though, and plenty of folks are carrying heavier rifles, so it would be kinda arbitrary. The only other thought I had was to impose weight limits on everything---rifle, bags, and tripods---to try and force folks to use lightweight bipods and tripods and lighter fill bags.

But at the end of the day, there is nothing stopping someone from showing up and shooting Skills with what they actually hunt with other than want-to. I don't think you can legislate want-to with rules.

The match in Laramie last year did a "backpacker" division that was based on total pack weight and gun. Seems it forced a lot to ditch the sand bags and heavy tripods for mid weight tripods and ultra light support bags.

 

[Pilsner]

I dunno, call it Factory Lite or something. You don't have to shoot it

It would be a crime if they did make that division and didn't call it the Fudd Lite division.

 

[DuckDawg22]

It would be a crime if they did make that division and didn't call it the Fudd Lite division.

Only jeans and flannels allowed as god intended

 

[Pilsner]

The idaho directors have changed to saturday morning check in which is sure nice. Always frustrating when you have to take a friday off just to go spend 30 minutes checking in.


The match in Laramie last year did a "backpacker" division that was based on total pack weight and gun. Seems it forced a lot to ditch the sand bags and heavy tripods for mid weight tripods and ultra light support bags.

How was that received? Give us some more specifics please as I am curious.
thanks

 

[Lawnboi]

Needing a full weekend plus Friday off work is the biggest killer of most matches for me.

Yep, biggest down side of 2 days for me. Wasting an entire day off to sign in.

 

[Lawnboi]

It would be a crime if they did make that division and didn't call it the Fudd Lite division.

I’ll shoot the fudd division. 3006 bdl only.

 

[ID_Matt]

How was that received? Give us some more specifics please as I am curious.
thanks

On the Saturday check in or the backpacker division?

 

[Pilsner]

backpacker division.

 

[wpeach1912]

backpacker division.

I shot it at Laramie. It’s still a game at the end of the day. They did 27lbs for rifle, mags, binos, backpack, tripod. 2nd and 4th place overall shot backpacker. I think they used like drawstring backpacks so they could use their heavy tripod and a bigger bag. It was a pretty prone intensive match, but a bigger tripod would have been nice a few times. . I used my actual hunting stuff and still did alright

 

[ddowning]

Right at the 12lb limit with the recoilx on. If I run the factory end cap i get the extra 10oz. Shoots factory Barnes Precision Match 140gr sub moa all day. On the search for a Vortex Razor AMG 6-24 with the EBR-7 reticle as it has a cross in the center vs a dot
260 remington 24" proof
Manners Pro Hunter
Rydr 6 bipod
Leupold Mark 4HD 6-24 PR3
RPM FLG rings w level
Scythe STM
View attachment 964945

Stop looking for an amg. I ran one from 2019 to 2022 in matches. The scope was in Wisconsin more than it was mounted to my rifle. Constant problems. The best ones would hold zero shooting, but not for the truck ride there. For matches with no zero board, I did a zero offset off the paint on the first stage.

I wish they would have fixed it and made it robust. I LOVED everything about that scope, except it would not stay together and hold zero. The customer service team at Vortex is great, but the engineers refused to acknowledge the problem because most people just put them in the gun safe and show them to their friends, and most people at that time did not know how to identify a .2 mil zero shift. Long range shooting has come a long way in a few years.

A burris xtr pro is a pretty good scope with a center cross. I have not dropped it, but it holds zero during normal use and car rides. The glass is better than the amg and it has a couple cool features. Otherwise, I would look at the stuff that is known to hold zero here and work with the reticle. An old swfa HD 5-20 would be far better than the amg.

 

[806guns]

Stop looking for an amg. I ran one from 2019 to 2022 in matches. The scope was in Wisconsin more than it was mounted to my rifle. Constant problems. The best ones would hold zero shooting, but not for the truck ride there. For matches with no zero board, I did a zero offset off the paint on the first stage.

I wish they would have fixed it and made it robust. I LOVED everything about that scope, except it would not stay together and hold zero. The customer service team at Vortex is great, but the engineers refused to acknowledge the problem because most people just put them in the gun safe and show them to their friends, and most people at that time did not know how to identify a .2 mil zero shift. Long range shooting has come a long way in a few years.

A burris xtr pro is a pretty good scope with a center cross. I have not dropped it, but it holds zero during normal use and car rides. The glass is better than the amg and it has a couple cool features. Otherwise, I would look at the stuff that is known to hold zero here and work with the reticle. An old swfa HD 5-20 would be far better than the amg.

Thanks for the feedback.

 

[codym]

I find these threads interesting. We have a couple threads about how every swinging dick hunting with a rifle can easily kill every animal on the mountain from 1k and beyond. Tech is too good and we are too effective etc… come over to the comp thread and to be competitive in a hunter/field style match with 1 MOA targets and bigger 1k yards and in you need “gamer gear” that nobody would ever hunt with. I wonder how people are pulling it off. Bottom line is a large percentage of rifle hunters would benefit from shooting these types of matches either in skills or trying to be competitive. The reality is that it’s expensive, figure 300 dollar entry fee, 150-200 rounds of ammo, food, lodging, travel, it’s difficult (going to a range shooting from a bench and having someone walk rounds into a 20’ gong at 500 yards is not the same as making first or second round impacts at hidden unknown distance targets from field expedient positions) so most never will. Yea it’s a competitive game, but it will help you be a more competent rifleman no matter what your style of hunting is.

 

[JDMBEND]

I find these threads interesting. We have a couple threads about how every swinging dick hunting with a rifle can easily kill every animal on the mountain from 1k and beyond. Tech is too good and we are too effective etc… come over to the comp thread and to be competitive in a hunter/field style match with 1 MOA targets and bigger 1k yards and in you need “gamer gear” that nobody would ever hunt with. I wonder how people are pulling it off. Bottom line is a large percentage of rifle hunters would benefit from shooting these types of matches either in skills or trying to be competitive. The reality is that it’s expensive, figure 300 dollar entry fee, 150-200 rounds of ammo, food, lodging, travel, it’s difficult (going to a range shooting from a bench and having someone walk rounds into a 20’ gong at 500 yards is not the same as making first or second round impacts at hidden unknown distance targets from field expedient positions) so most never will. Yea it’s a competitive game, but it will help you be a more competent rifleman no matter what your style of hunting is.

You can make it expensive if you want to. Or bring what you have to a one day match and shoot skills for $75.00 or less. I promise it will be a eye opening experience and you will have a lot of fun.

 

[ddowning]

I find these threads interesting. We have a couple threads about how every swinging dick hunting with a rifle can easily kill every animal on the mountain from 1k and beyond. Tech is too good and we are too effective etc… come over to the comp thread and to be competitive in a hunter/field style match with 1 MOA targets and bigger 1k yards and in you need “gamer gear” that nobody would ever hunt with. I wonder how people are pulling it off. Bottom line is a large percentage of rifle hunters would benefit from shooting these types of matches either in skills or trying to be competitive. The reality is that it’s expensive, figure 300 dollar entry fee, 150-200 rounds of ammo, food, lodging, travel, it’s difficult (going to a range shooting from a bench and having someone walk rounds into a 20’ gong at 500 yards is not the same as making first or second round impacts at hidden unknown distance targets from field expedient positions) so most never will. Yea it’s a competitive game, but it will help you be a more competent rifleman no matter what your style of hunting is.

I used to shoot 10-20 matches per year with my family. My kids decided they liked archery better. Now we shoot maybe one or 2 matches a year for fun and only practice a few days leading up to the match. The difference in what I can do with a rifle is night and day. There are shots that would have been gimme shots 3 or 4 years ago that I don't even think I could make now. I see huge differences in what my kids can do too. Shooting is definitely a perishable skill, as is calling wind. Right now there are certain conditions where I could make a 600 yard shot. In most conditions I don’t even have any business shooting that far. 3 years ago, pretty much anything within 600 was in trouble no matter the conditions, unless I could not get a range because of snow/rain/fog.

I do think there is value to knowing how to do it, but I think it would take a minimum of 3 weeks of shooting 200 or more rounds per day to get back to where I was 3 years ago. It would take a lot more just shooting on weekends. Probably a year or more. There are two kinds of people that say they can do it, those that are doing it and those that are clueless.